Jack-in-the-box toy



Feb. 17, 1970 J. E. MITCHELL JACK-IN-THE-BOX TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 28, 1967 Feb. 17, 1970 I J. E. M I TC HELL 3,495,343

. JACK-IN-THEBOX TOY 7 Filed A ril 28. 1967 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 l 4 INVENTOR.

I JOSEPH E. /7/7Zfll L United Patent 3,495,348 JACK-lN-THE-BOX TOYJoseph E. Mitchell, Long Beach, Calif., assignor to Lakeside Industries,Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 28, 1967,Ser. No. 634,512 Int. Cl. A6311 13/16 US. Cl. 46-146 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE A jack-in-the-box amusement device having a rotatablymounted release element to actuate a latch holding the lid of the devicein closed position when rotated into only one of several possiblepositions. A release element rotatably mounted in a housing to pivot apivotally mounted latch to move the latch out of locking engagement witha movable lid.

The invention relates to an amusement device. More particularly, theinvention relates to a jack-in-the-box type amusement device. Still moreparticularly, the invention relates to a jack-in-the-box type amusementdevice in the form of an Aladdins lamp.

The childrens toy industry requires the creation of safe simple ruggedamusement devices which are attractive. In addition, the industry isconcerned with the problem of creating amusement devices which requiremanipulation by children so that children can learn and practice variousmanipulative movements.

, Heretofore, the known jack-in-the-box type amusement devices have beenconstructed in various shapes, such as geometric box-shapes and ovalshapes, and other ornamental shapes, such as a bee-hive and appleshapes, and have had spring biased pop-up elements located centrally ofthe devices. The pop-up elements have usually been retained in arestrained position within the interior of the devices by latchingmembers which are actuated by a simple push or pull type manipulation torelease the restraint on the pop-up elements. Also, in some instances,the amusement devices have been made of flexible material and the pop-upelements have been retained by mating tongue and groove members whichare actuated upon deformation of the devices by squeezing.

Briefly, the invention provides a jack-in-the-box type amusement devicewhich has a housing in the shape of an Aladdins lamp and which has aspring biased pop-up element within a central cavity in the housing. Thepopup element is retained within the housing by a pivotally mounted lidon the housing which is locked in place by a latching device within thehousing. The latching device is actuated by a release element rotatablymounted in a side of the housing. The release element is formed with agenerally spherical surface exposed to the exterior of the housing andhas a means on a surface in the interior of the housing to actuate thelatching device to permit release of the lid so that the pop-up elementcan pop out of the housing.

Actuating of the release element is accomplished by the rotation of theexposed surface of the element project ing from the face of the housingas by a rubbing action of a childs hand in any plane of the universalnumber of rotation planes. However, actuation of the latching device toallow the lid to pivot away from the housing is only accomplished afterthe release element has been manipulated into a predetermined positionwith the means on the surface of the release element inside the housingin releasing contact with the latching device.

The housing of the amusement device is formed as an integral unitconstruction of a molded plastic material such as polyethylene and thelid is pivotally mounted ice over the cavity under a spring biasingforce. Additionally, the entire device is provided with an attractivecolor scheme.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide ajack-in-the-box amusement device which requires extensive manipulationto release a pop-up element within the device.

It is another object of the invention to provide a release element foractuating a latching device which requires manipulation of the releaseelement into only one of a plurality of possible positions to actuatethe latching device.

It is another object of the invention to provide an amusement devicewhich is rugged in construction and attractive in appearance.

It is another object of the invention to provide a jackin-the-boxamusement device which is of compact construction to be easilymanipulated by children.

It is another object of the invention to provide a latching device and arelease element for actuating the latching device upon movement into oneof a number of possible positions.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description and appended claimstaken in c0njunc tion with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an amusement device of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a fragmentary view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a fragmentary view of the device of FIG. 1 with thelatching device exposed;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of the latching device of theinvention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the latching device; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a fragmentary top view of the latching device.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, amusement device 10 of a jack-in-thc-boxtype has a one-piece housing 11 in the shape of an Aladdins lamp. Thehousing 11 includes a body 12 with a handle 13 and a spout portion 14extending from opposite ends. The body 12 has side walls 15 which areshaped in a decorative manner. Each side wall 15 includes a sphericallyshaped protuberance which is formed by an integral of a side wall on oneside and by a rotatable release element 16 of spherical shape freelymounted for rotation in a universal number of rotation planes within theother side. A lid 17 is pivotally mounted on a pin 18 journalled insupport brackets 19 on body 12 to overlie the central portion of thebody. In addition, the lid 17 is biased by a spring (not shown) on thepin 18 to pivot in a direction away from the top of the body 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, a pop-up assembly 20 is mounted within a cavity 21in the body 12 and retained within the cavity 21 by a rim 22 of the body12 which defines an opening. The pop'up assembly 20 includes anopen-ended cup 24, a pop-up element 25 disposed in the cup 24 and alatching device 26 integrally mounted on the cup 24. The cup 24 is, forexample, of a generally cylindrical shape and is disposed under the lid17 when the lid is in a closed position. In addition, a spring mountingcap 27 which is shaped to facilitate the mounting of pop-up element 25is secured to the bottom of the cup 24 in an upstanding manner.

The pop-up element 25 includes a spring 28, for example, a helicalspring, a head 29 in an ornamental shape to simulate the appearance of agenie, and a sleeve 30 which extends from the head 29 to cover thespring 28. The spring 28 is retained at one end by a spring mounting cap27 and is fastened at the other end to the head 29 in any known manner.The head 29 is made of any suitable material, such as, a molded plastic,and is provided with at least one simulated genie face. The head 29 isalso of a size to fit within the cup 24 in a known manner in alignmentwith the lid 17 when the lid is closed. Also, when the lid 17 is closed,the spring 48 is compressed so as to bias the head 29 against the bottomof lid 17 in a direction out of the cup 24. The sleeve 30 is of anysuitable decorative material which is pleated when fully within the cup24 and which is sized to extend from within the cup 24 when the head 29is positioned outside the cup 24.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the latching device 26 includes a housing 31on a side of the cup 24 which, for example, is integrally formed on thecup, and a latch 32 pivotally mounted with respect to the housing 31.The housing 31 is of a generally boxed shaped which is formed by a topwall 33 extending from a lip 34 of the cup 24, a depending side wall 35,a depending U-shaped front wall 36, and an L-shaped ledge 37 whichextends across the open bottom of the front wall 36 into the side of thecup 24 so as to close off the front wall 36 and to form an opening intothe housing 31 opposite the side wall 35. The U-shaped front wall 36defines an elongated opening 38 which is surrounded by a beveled lip 39and which is sized to receive the release element 16 without permittingpassage of the release element 16.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the latch 32 is formed with asemi-cylindrical seat portion 40 which seats on a pin 41 projecting fromthe side wall .of cup 24 for pivoting about the axis of the pin 41. Inaddition, the latch 32 includes a release element receiving portion 42and a catch portion 43. The release element receiving portion 42includes a wall 44 extending from the seat portion 40 into the interiorof housing 41 and a socket 45 on the end of the wall 44 which isdisposed in alignment with the aperture 38 in the housing front wall 36.The socket 45 is shaped as an annular ring to receive in mating relation2. portion of the release element 16 projecting through aperture 38 inthe housing 41. In addition, the socket 45 includes a rear wall 46having a projection 47 of, for example, triangular shape which projectscentrally of the socket rear wall in the plane of the opening 38 towardthe front wall 36 of the housing 31. The projection 47 is sized toremain within the confines of the socket so as to cooperate with abutton 48 on the release element 16. The button 48 is formed of anysuitable shape to contact projection 47 when brought into verticalalignment under the projection. The catch portion 43 has a wall 49 whichextends from the wall 44 around the cup 24 in a direction generallyparallel to the pin 41 and a catch 50 which projects from the top of thewall 49 toward the cup 24. In addition, the latch 32 has an integralstiffener 51 of suitable configuration which serves to reinforce thewalls 44, 49 against flexing. Also, the latch 32 is biased in adirection toward the cup 24 by a spring 52 mounted on the pin 41 (FIG.8).

Referring to FIG. 5, the lid 17 is formed with a depending tab 53 at oneend which is sized to be guided by a notch 54 in the cup 24 and whichmounts a tang 55 at the end below the rim 56 in substantially parallelrelation to the rim 56. The tang 55 is sized to pass through a slot 57in the rim 22 of the body 12 to cooperate with the catch 50 on the latch32. The tang 55 and catch 50 are shaped with rounded portions atrespective opposite sides in order to facilitate passage of the tang 55over the catch 50 when moved in a downward manner for closing 'of thelid 17.

Referring to FIG. 4, the release element 16 is disposed between the sidewall of body 12 and the latching assembly 26 on the cup 24 to projectthrough the plane of the side wa l 15 on one side and on the other sidethrough the slotted aperture 38 in the housing front wall 36 into thesocket 45. Additionally, the release element 16 is shaped to seat withinthe side wall 15, the lip 39 around aperture 38, and the socket 45 forrotation in a universal manner. The button 48 on the release element 16is sized so as to project into the plane of the projection 47 on thesocket rear wall 46 when in vertical alignment with the projection 47.

In operation, the lid 17 is initially in a closed position relative tothe cavity 21 in body 12 with the catch of the latching assemblyprojecting between the tang and rim 56 of the lid to maintain the lid inthe closed position. In this position, the lid 17 maintains the spring28 of the pop-up assembly 20 in a compressed state with the head 29 incontact with the underside of the lid 17. The release element 16 is thenrotated, for example, as by manually rubbing the release element, in anynumber of rotation planes. Rotation of the release element 16 continuesuntil the button 48 on the release element comes into contact with thebottom of the projection 47 of the socket 45 in a predetermined one ofthe rotating planes. Thereafter, the release element 16 is rotated in asubstantially vertical plane, as viewed in FIG. 3, while maintainingcooperating contact between the button 48 and projection 47 in order topivot the socket 45 and, consequently, the latch 32 about the axis ofpin 41 on the cup 24 against the force of the spring 52. As the latch 32pivots, the catch 50 on wall 49 pivots about the axis of pin 41 awayfrom the tang 55. When the tang 55 no longer projects into the projectedpath of movement of the tang 55, the lid 17 is pivoted on pin 18 awayfrom the opening to the cavity 21 into an open position under thebiasing force of the spring (not shown) on the pin 18. As the lid 17pivots, the head 29 of the pop-up element 25 springs upwardly out of thecup 24 in a pleasing manner under the force of the unrestrained spring28. The pivoting forces imposed on the lid 17 are sufficient to rapidlymove the lid 17 out of the vertical path of movement of head 29 to avoidinterference with the movement of the head 29.

It is notedthat the housing 31 is sized to provide sufficient clearancefor the pivoting movements of the socket 45 within the housing interior.

In order to return the lid 17 to the closed position from the openposition the lid 17 is pivoted about pin 18 toward the cavity 21. As thelid 17 approaches the rim 22 of the housing 11, the depending tab 53passes into notch 54 in the cup 24 in order to guide the tang 55 intoalignment with the catch 50 of the latching assembly. Thereafter, thetang 55 passes through slot 57 in the rim 22 of body 12 and subsequentlyover the rounded upper portion of catch 50 to push the catch out of thepath of movement. Upon further movement, the tang 55 moves past thecatch 50 to .allow the catch 50 to move into the recess between the tang55 and lid rim 56. The catch 50 thereby restrains the lid 17 from movingunder the force of the spring (not shown) on the pin 18 until the latchis again actuated as above upon manipulation of the release element 16.

The invention provides an amusement device which is attractive in.appearance, rugged in use and simple to manipulate. The invention alsoprovides a jack-in-the-box amusement device which relates the pop-upmovement of a pop-up element in the shape of a genie head with theconcept .of the fabled Aladdins magic lamp, that is, that upon rubbingof the fabled lamp, a genie will appear to grant the wishes of theperson rubbing the lamp.

The invention also provides a latching assembly which avoids the use ofan interest-lacking simple push-pull type ofmechanical actuation byusing a release element which relies on a mechanical actuation bymanipulation into any number of rotation plans only one of which allowsactuation. Further, the latching assembly is adapted to be incorporatedinto the structure of the amusement device of the invention whilecomplementing the attractive appearance of the amusement device.

What is claimed is:

1. An amusement device including a housing having a cavity therein,

a pop-up element disposed within the cavity of said housing for movementout of said housing,

a lid pivotally mounted on said housing retaining said pop-up elementwithin the cavity of said housing,

a latching device Within said housing locking said lid in a closedposition over said pop-up element,;and

a release element rotatably mounted in said housing independently ofsaid latching device and having means for selectively actuating acooperating means on said latching device to release said lid fromlatching relation with said latching device upon rotation into apredetermined position of a number of positions whereby said pop-upelement is free to move out of the cavity of said housing upon selectiveactuation of said latching device.

2. An amusement device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing isin the shape of an Aladdins lamp having a body containing the cavitytherein, a handle extending from one end of said body and a spoutportion extending from an opposite end of said body.

3. An amusement device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pop-upelement includes a head simulating a face of a genie, a spring securedto said head and said body biasing said head out of said body, and asleeve secured to said head and surrounding said spring.

4. An amusement device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said latchingdevice comprises a pivotally mounted latch having a catch thereonprojecting into the projected path of movement of said lid locking saidlid in the closed position and said means on said release element iswithin said housing for pivoting said latch to move said catch out ofthe projected path of movement of said lid.

5. An amusement device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said releaseelement is spheroid shaped.

6. An amusement device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said releaseelement is freely mounted within said housing for rotation in auniversal number of rotation planes.

7. An amusement device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a cupmounted in the cavity of said housing under said lid, said cup havingsaid pop-up element disposed therein and said latching device pivotallymounted thereon. V p

8. An amusement device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said releaseelement has a spherical surface exposed to said housing exterior andsaid means thereon is within said housing interior to actuate saidcooperating means on said latching device to release said lid.

9. An amusement device including a housing having a cavity therein, apop-up element disposed within the cavity of said housing for movementout of said housing, a lid pivotally mounted on said housing retainingsaid pop-up element within the cavity of said housing, a latching devicewithin said housing including a pivotally mounted latch having a catchthereon projecting into the projected path of movement of said lidlocking said lid in the closed position and having a socket thereonincluding a rear wall having a projection thereon, and a release elementof spheroid shape rotatably mounted in said socket for actuating saidlatching device to release said lid from latching relation with saidlatching device and including a button for contacting said projection topivot said latch to move said catch out of the projected path ofmovement of said lid whereby said pop-up element is free to move out ofthe cavity of said housing upon actuation of said latching device.

10. An amusement device including a housing having a cavity therein, acup mounted in the cavity of said housing and having an integral housingthereon, a pop-up element disposed within said cup for movement out ofsaid housing, a lid pivotally mounted on said housing over said cupretaining said pop-up element within said cup, a latching devicepivotally mounted on said cup within said housing locking said lid in aclosed position over said pop-up element and including a latch thereon,and a release element rotatably mounted in said integral housing on saidcup for actuating said latching device, said release element having aportion received within said latch for pivoting of said latching deviceto release said lid from latching relation whereby said pop-up elementis free to move out of said cup and said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,446,540 8/1948 Leach 461462,521,131 9/1950 Sloane 46146 XR 2,598,807 6/1952 Lawson et al. 46146 XRFOREIGN PATENTS 356,034 9/ 1931 Great Britain.

RUSSELL R. KINSEY, Primary Examiner R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner

